Young girls wearing cropped t shirts

[Badgerandfox227]

DD is in year 3 and I wanted to get her a t shirt and cycling shorts set for a party she’s going to this weekend. Ordered one from Next and it’s arrived today - but it’s a cropped t shirt 😫

Why are so many young girls tops and t shirts cropped? Is it just me, or do you think it’s unnecessary at this age? Fine if she’s a teenager but she’s only 8! I don’t understand why mainstream shops are pushing this kind of look for young girls.

YABU - little girls can dress like teenagers
YANBU - it’s not appropriate for little girls to dress like teenagers

I think of it as fashion rather than dressing like a teen. It's only a stomach, not an area that is generally seen as 'sexy' or adult in the same way that a short skirt or low cut top or wearing makeup might be. So I do see where you're coming from and why you don't like it, but personally I don't have an issue with seeing a bit of an 8 year olds stomach, as to me it's just a style rather than trying to dress older.

I think there was a similar thread about crop tops recently and the views were pretty split so think this thread will go a similar way

having the same issue looking for clothes for my girls, loads of tops seem to be cropped these days I won't buy them for my kids don't care if they are in "fashion"

I lived in crop tops aged eight and that was 35 years ago! I'm the same now, hate unecessery fabric when it's hot. Personal preference . If your child likes them then I'd let them wear it. I don't think they are sexy.

Cropped T shirts are fine

I can't vote in your poll because clothes don't have age limits

A bunch of girls in my daughters Y3 class wear cropped tops a lot, me and a friend are not keen for our daughters so we just buy the next size up so it's not properly cropped, both girls are happy with that.
Each to their own though, it's the trend right now.

It's not new, I lived in crop tops when I was a kid in the 90's because it was trendy. Every photo of me and my sisters from that time we're in crop tops, platform shoes, space buns etc. 90's fashion is back in now, so makes sense that crop tops are back too.

What's inappropriate about the midriff of an 8 year old?

For a start it’s freezing at the moment, but for me I think it looks chavvy, which I know won’t go down well with a lot so I’m sure I’ll get a flaming on here 🫣

No issues from me at all. We are quite chavvy though

THIS

Been shopping for summer wear for DD 18 months, and OMG the frustration is real.. Had to buy her boys shorts because I absolutely could not find any for girls that aren't so stupidly short that her nappy would be hanging out! Who puts toddlers in booty shorts ffs??

Ordered her some mickey mouse tshirts two sizes up so they'd be a bit longer and baggier to wear over leggings, and they're cropped! Not massively, but enough to see a bit of midriff

Its just so cringe 🤮

I'm not massively modest, I dont cover up, I wear tight tops / shorts etc, I just dont see why a literal baby needs to have a bare midriff and her bum cheeks hanging out..?

Absolutely hate crop tops and the fact everything is cropped and so do they. I've also bought boys t shirts for my daughters.

I get my DD's cycling sets from river island they aren't cropped

I don't like it either. I especially don't like the super tight/small crop tops with cycling shorts. We are teaching girls that default "fashion" is tight, even if we can all agree that an 8 year old in a crop top is not in the slightest bit sexy.

I do allow shorter t-shirts (actual t-shirts, not tiny little tight tops) now. And she's allowed to wear the occassional crop top but with high waisted, not tight trousers. She wanted to wear her flared leggings with a sports-bra style cropped top to school the other day for mufti day... that was a definitive no.

We are teaching girls that default "fashion" is tight

Be fair, @GerbilsForever24 - three or four years ago it was all loose peasant tops and boho skirts. We’re not teaching them “fashion is tight clothing” because “fashion” changes all the time.

At least it’s not skin tight jeans that restrict their freedom of movement anymore. DD and her friends are all in wide legged trousers with their cropped tops.

@BardsAreAssholes From the day our children graduate from babygrows, we teach girls the default is tight/small. Go to any toddler sports group or nursery and look at what the girls are wearing vs the boys. When wearing trousers, the girls' version will be leggings or shorts that are mid to high thigh. The boys will be wearing trackie trousers or knee length shorts. It's not sexualised, but it is real - tight is defeault.

The overall fashion might change as they get older, but "fashion" often seems to insist on tight clothing for girls - the skinny jeans and trousers of a few years ago or the trend for sports-style cropped tops today. Don't even get me started on bodycon dresses. We tell ourselves we're empowering our girls and young women by lettting them choose without even realising how we've created this default from the start.

Yep I agree. I don’t think young girls need to wear clothes that show their bellies etc. no more than a boy would and you don’t see boys clothes like that. Same with shorts - girls are often cut shorter than boys shorts.
I was a child growing up in the 90s and didn’t wear (or maybe wasn’t allowed to?) crop tops. It was all about baggy T-shirts and cycling shorts for me!

Oh I hate this....I was looking around a girls clothing section recently and every bloody top was cropped. I think this is mainly a way for them to save money...less material, less cost. Makes me rage actually.

I actually don’t mind a short top but if you mean the ones where it’s loose fitting and short I think they look awful! So unflattering for all ages!

I see loads of little boys on hot summer days wearing just shorts. If boys can show their entire torsos without people worrying they’re being sexualised, why can’t little girls have a part of their midriff uncovered?

It's just fashion. I actually they look completely innocent on young girls and much more sexy on girls who are more developed.

I doubt many would be wandering around shopping centres etc like that though and if they did I’d think it inappropriate.

It wouldn’t bother me, but presumably your idea of it being inappropriate is because ideas about “appropriate dress” differ according to different environments, not because little boys without shirts are somehow sexier in a shopping centre than in the park. Nobody saying they dislike crop tops on little girls is saying they’re are perfectly fine except in the shopping centre, so there’s a different standard at play.

You are obviously free to make your own decision about the clothes you consider suitable for your child. However I have very limited time for anyone who uses the word "chavvy" to describe other people and their clothes.

Agree op.
its the lack of choice that’s frustrating. Boys clothes are more practical, proper pockets, better fabric.

My friends with girls that age buy the tops a couple of sizes up. They still look cropped but are long enough to cover them.

A lot of it is just styling, so if a slightly cropped style tshirt is paired with high waisted leggings then I will let DD(7) wear it but nothing with her full stomach out because it’s not a look I like on her and I wouldn’t let my DS run around in public with his tshirt off either.

Im also not keen on bikinis for young girls, my DD begged for one so I found one with a bit more or a substantial top (are they still called tankinis?) as a compromise for holiday.